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Ethics code: IR.IAU.SARI.REC.1400.083
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Shahbazi I, Emadian S O, Alavikolaei S E. (2026). Comparative Effectiveness of Floortime Play Therapy and Sunrise Program on Communication Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Childhood Health and Education. 7(1), doi:10.32598/JECHE.7.1.390.1
URL: http://jeche.ir/article-1-357-en.html
URL: http://jeche.ir/article-1-357-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Sari Branch, Sari, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
3- Department of Psychology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran.
2- Department of Psychology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
3- Department of Psychology, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran.
Abstract: (280 Views)
Background and Aim: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is recognized as a major challenge in the development and enhancement of children's communication skills. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two play-therapy methods, Floortime and the Sunrise program, on improving the communication skills of children with this disorder.
Research Methods: The research design was a semi-experimental one with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all children with autism spectrum disorder in Sari in 2010, from which 45 children with autism spectrum disorder were selected as the research sample by convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to three experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). Data were collected using the Garz-2 standard questionnaire (Gilliam, 1994). Multivariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni test were used to analyze the data and examine the difference between pretest and posttest scores with SPSS version 26 software.
Results: The findings showed that both Floortime and Sunrise methods had a positive and significant effect on improving the communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder, and a significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of the two methods, indicating a difference in their effectiveness. In other words, the effect of Floortime play therapy on communication skills was greater.
Discussion: These results suggest that both methods can be employed as effective interventions in communication rehabilitation programs for children with ASD. The present study faced limitations such as a relatively small sample size and the use of convenience sampling, which limit the generalizability of the findings. It is recommended that future research use larger samples and random sampling methods and examine varied durations and intensities of the interventions to determine the long-term effects of both methods. Conducting multi-center and combined studies is also recommended.
Research Methods: The research design was a semi-experimental one with a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all children with autism spectrum disorder in Sari in 2010, from which 45 children with autism spectrum disorder were selected as the research sample by convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to three experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). Data were collected using the Garz-2 standard questionnaire (Gilliam, 1994). Multivariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni test were used to analyze the data and examine the difference between pretest and posttest scores with SPSS version 26 software.
Results: The findings showed that both Floortime and Sunrise methods had a positive and significant effect on improving the communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder, and a significant difference was observed in the effectiveness of the two methods, indicating a difference in their effectiveness. In other words, the effect of Floortime play therapy on communication skills was greater.
Discussion: These results suggest that both methods can be employed as effective interventions in communication rehabilitation programs for children with ASD. The present study faced limitations such as a relatively small sample size and the use of convenience sampling, which limit the generalizability of the findings. It is recommended that future research use larger samples and random sampling methods and examine varied durations and intensities of the interventions to determine the long-term effects of both methods. Conducting multi-center and combined studies is also recommended.
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Communication skills, Floor time play therapy, Sun-rise Program.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/07/18 | Accepted: 2026/03/21 | Published: 2026/03/21
Received: 2025/07/18 | Accepted: 2026/03/21 | Published: 2026/03/21
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